Chapter 12: The Thunder Awakens – Empress of the Ant Nest
Drake and his three loyal Pokémon continued their relentless grinding. Every battle brought experience and growth, and their levels skyrocketed in just a matter of days.
"System, show me my current status."
UNDERSTOOD. DISPLAYING STATUS.
STATUS
NAME: DrakeRACE: Needle Rabbit → ???LEVEL: 15 → 19EXP: 9.5M / 10MSTR: 27 → 36AGI: 44 → 54MAG: 0 → 1CHRM: 0
POKÉMON:
Staravia (LVL 15 → 22)
Pidgeotto (LVL 14 → 21)
Chimchar (LVL 1 → 14)
As Drake reviewed his team's growth, a certain memory flashed through his mind—one tied to a moment of curiosity that had changed everything.
A Few Days Ago…
After hitting level 19, Drake and his Pokémon were sprawled out, resting and snacking on crystals.
"I should assign my stat points now…" he muttered, instinctively preparing to drop them into AGI and STR like always. But then, a different thought struck him. "What if… just one into MAGIC?"
The moment he confirmed the choice, a strange warmth spread through his tiny body. A blue glow coursed along his horn, and suddenly two loud chimes echoed in his mind.
CONGRATULATIONS!MAGIC STAT UNLOCKED. REWARD: 1x POKÉMON LOTTERY TICKET.BEGINNER MAGIC SKILL UNLOCKED: THUNDERBOLT.
"Wait, seriously? Just for unlocking magic?" Drake stared at the notifications, wide-eyed. "A free ticket and an attack spell? Jackpot."
Excited, he sprang up. His Pokémon gave him curious glances, especially Chimchar, who looked like a chipmunk with his cheeks stuffed full of crystal chunks.
"Alright, glutton, let's go test something!"
The team left their hiding spot and began hunting. Soon enough, a familiar screech rang out—Killer Ants. Just what they needed.
Drake took position. Focusing magic to his horn, he muttered, "Thunderbolt."
Crackling blue energy surged forth, blasting an ant into smoking pieces. His Pokémon stared in awe.
"Let's keep going!" he shouted. Ants poured in from all sides, summoned by pheromones. Drake danced around the battlefield, unleashing bolts like a lightning god in bunny form—until suddenly, pain erupted in his head.
WARNING: MAGIC ENERGY NEARLY DEPLETED. CONTINUED USE MAY RESULT IN MIND DOWN AND UNCONSCIOUSNESS.
"Retreat combo, now!" he barked.
Pidgeotto flapped into the air, summoning a hurricane that vacuumed up dozens of ants. Chimchar unleashed a full-power Flamethrower, creating a swirling firestorm of destruction. When the dust settled, only crystals remained.
Back to the Present…
"That magic point changed everything," Drake mused. "A real trump card."
"How long have I been on this floor, system?"
USER HAS BEEN GRINDING FOR TWO WEEKS.
"Yikes. Time to move on." He turned to his team. "You ready?"
All three nodded eagerly.
"Staravia, can you carry me?"
The bird flapped confidently. Drake climbed onto Staravia, and Chimchar jumped onto Pidgeotto. The squad took flight, soaring through the ant-infested caverns.
Ahead, three Killer Ants blocked their path.
"Pidgeotto, Steel Wing! Staravia, Razor Wind!"
The birds shredded the ants with ease. Drake praised them with a grin as they approached a vast dome chamber—and at the far end, the staircase leading to the next floor.
"…That seems too easy," Drake muttered.
As if on cue, the ceiling above burst open. A twisted figure dropped down—a grotesque fusion of beauty and monstrosity. From the waist up, she was a blonde, blue-eyed woman. From the waist down, a monstrous ant with eight legs and four arms. And her mouth… twisted into a maw full of jagged, triangular teeth.
"If I were human, maybe the top half would be cute…" Drake muttered, then flinched as a deep red screen flashed before him.
EMERGENCY QUEST UNLOCKED
WARNING: THE DUNGEON IS A LIVING ORGANISM. IT HAS DETECTED USER'S MASS SLAUGHTER OF ITS INHABITANTS AND HAS RELEASED A HIGH-TIER GUARDIAN.
OBJECTIVE: DEFEAT ANT QUEEN VARIANT.REWARD: SPECIAL SKILL – BODY SWITCH.
Drake squinted up at the monster.
[ANT QUEEN VARIANT – EMPRESS – LVL 69][SKILL: EMPRESS CALL]
The empress shrieked, a deafening screech that almost ruptured Drake's ears. Tunnels burst open, and wave after wave of Killer Ants began flooding the dome. Even the path behind them became a torrent of chittering death.
"Chimchar, Staravia, Pidgeotto! Hold the ants off! I'll take on the queen!"
His Pokémon scattered. Chimchar created a burning wall with Flame Wheel. The birds soared, cleaving through the swarms. Drake charged forward, barely dodging the Empress's massive arms, managing only to graze her shoulder.
He dove beneath her insectoid body, slamming his horn into one of her legs and channeled magic into it.
"THUNDERBOLT!"
Lightning surged from within her own limb. The Ant Empress howled in agony, but spotted the pest impaled in her leg. She raised the limb and hurled him across the chamber. Drake smashed into a wall, coughing blood and groaning.
Barely conscious, he looked up and grinned.
"She's hurting… Pidgeotto, get me up there!"
The bird swooped in and carried him into the air.
"Chimchar, full-power Flamethrower! Distract it!"
As the empress writhed in flame, Drake gathered his magic.
Electricity sparked around him as he dove from the sky, horn first, spinning violently.
"THUNDERBOLT TORPEDO DRILL!"
A spinning lance of lightning crashed into the Empress's chest, shaking the entire dome. Dust filled the air. When it cleared, a single bloody bunny stood, huffing and barely upright.
"Guys… finish the rest."
The three Pokémon obeyed without hesitation. Flames, winds, claws, and beaks reduced the horde to nothing but shimmering dust.
Once the battle ended, they rushed to Drake's side, filled with worry.
"I'm okay… Good job, everyone…" he whispered.
"Staravia… carry me to the stairs…"
As they ascended, a trio of chimes echoed in his mind.
CONGRATULATIONS! EMERGENCY QUEST COMPLETE.REWARD: SPECIAL SKILL – BODY SWITCH.ANT EMPRESS DEFEATED – REWARD: 1.5M EXPLEVEL UP!CONDITIONS MET FOR EVOLUTION. SCANNING OPTIMAL PATH…EVOLUTION UNLOCKED: IMP. CONFIRM? Y/N
"Yeah… do it."
A blinding light enveloped Drake. As it faded, a new form emerged.
He was no longer a tiny, hopping bunny. Drake now stood upright on two legs. Small demon-like horns curled back from his head, his body sleek and agile.
"I can walk on two legs… this is amazing!"
His Pokémon tilted their heads, intrigued by their transformed master. Drake laughed, taking a confident step forward.
"A new body… new power… and a whole dungeon left to conquer."
A/N well i hope my readers will enjoy this chapter thanks for supporting my story